Kuriositas

You Can Hide but You Can’t Run - The Brockley Cone Caper

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 19:32:57 +0000

My walk to work takes me through Brockley, in South East London. It’s quite a pleasant walk and I often notice the birds, the trees and the gentle turning of the seasons (OK, perhaps not so gentle these days). However today, atop of the bus stop pictured above I noticed not one, two or three, but four traffic cones. Perhaps they had heard that the Cone Catchers of Catford were making run-ins to their post code, and knowing full well that their ability to run was somewhat limited, decided to hide. They say there is safety in numbers, after all.

Enough of the visual metaphor. Far more likely, perhaps, is that some local teeny mandem (I suspect they were probably male and had perhaps been squiffing or sniffing things not quite legal for their age) placed them there. Now, I think the odds of chucking four traffic cones on top of a bus stop and all of them landing perfectly straight is slim. So, I think that this coney caper must have involved one or more inebriate youngers climbing on top of the bus stop and having the cones passed up to them, proceeding to them arrange them in a rectangular pattern (milord). However it was done, it must have taken some organisation and perhaps some kind of artistic statement is being made, after all? Whoever planned and executed this installation have, I hope, done well in their GCSEs, as this shows initiative, spatial awareness, and a commendable commitment to seeing a project through to completion.

Now, of course, I am wondering how long they will be up there for! I would place my bet on 30 days.

The Web of Science: How Great Discoveries Build on Earlier Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:04:00 +0000

I suppose now we’re very used to the idea of the World Wide Web, that creating a title like that doesn’t demand a huge leap of the imagination, but the interconnectedness of ideas, theories and developments in science is something that could be overlooked, with the giants of science sometimes being considered as – metaphorically – isolated islands of genius with nothing coming before their great breakthroughs. This couldn’t be further from the truth – without Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, and Johannes Kepler, for example, it would have been very difficult for Einstein to come up with his theories all on his own.

This fascinating video delves into this idea and shows – with some remarkable graphics – how four major Nobel Prize-winning scientific breakthroughs were connected to what went before. The video starts with Isaac Newton, whose idea that it was the same force that made apples fall and planets move was built on the works of the three gentlemen I mentioned previously. And it builds from there. The video examines carbon dating, the photoelectric effect, x-ray crystallography and microwaves. That’s quite a lot to get through in eight minutes, so fasten your seatbelt and watch the video (a coproduction between the BBC and Nobel Prize Outreach) below. It is narrated by Natashe Peach and written by Carol Olona. The outstanding motion design and SFX is by Kako Abraham

Amirchik’s “Kyrgyzstan”: The Kyrgyz Pop Hit Celebrating Independence Day

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:38:44 +0000

If you have ever wondered what popular music sounds like in Kyrgyzstan, then look no further. This track is called КЫРГЫЗСТАН, which is written in Kyrgyz and means – yes, you’ve guessed it – Kyrgyzstan. It is sung by Amirchik, the stage name of Amirkhan Batabayev, a singer from the country who became immensely popular through TikTok and later with his hit song "Эта любовь" ("This Love"). He was born near Bishkek in 2003 and has gained fans across Central Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. Perhaps it’s now his turn to appeal to countries much further west of Kyrgyzstan too.

The song was written to celebrate Kyrgyzstan’s Independence Day (31 August) as well as its people, national pride, and the artist's personal connection to the place where he grew up. The production involved a large team, including professional choreographers, dancers, and a dedicated filming crew, all working together to bring this creative vision to life. To make it even more awesome, it is set against the backdrop of Kyrgyzstan’s magnificent mountains. Like much of the contemporary Kyrgyz pop scene, the music blends upbeat rhythms and synthesized production with the emotional resonance of Kyrgyz oral musical traditions. This certainly allows the song to remain accessible to a global audience while maintaining a distinct local identity. Happy Independence Day!

The Frida Kahlo Story: Joy, Pain, Colour and Courage

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:45:50 +0000

This animation, telling the life of artist Frida Kahlo, was created by Tate Kids for young viewers, but I love the way that it gets the story across without patronage – so making it ideal for viewers of all ages. Born in 1907, Frida Kahlo collected plants while her father painted. Her mother taught her about Mexican indigenous culture. When she was six, she contracted polio and although she recovered, her classmates teased her because she had one leg longer than another. Her solution was to invent an imaginary friend and, encouraged by her father, she took on several sports to help in her recovery from the disease.

She got into one of the best schools in Mexico. However, something terrible happened when she was 18 – resulting in a fractured spine and a plaster cast. Learn more about Frida’s recovery and how her art developed because of the accident. Kahlo would have over 30 operations over the course of her life, but painting stayed with her throughout. Out of every evil some great good must come and we have her art forever – Frida continues to inspire artist and art lovers to this day. Watch this rather lovely video below.

The Spiders That Decorate Their Own Webs

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 17:36:06 +0000

Spider webs – possibly the most beautiful and intricate animal structures of the natural world. However, some spiders are not content with a simple web. They go one step further. They decorate their own webs and today they are featured on the Ark in Space.

These stabilimenta were the source of inspiration for EB White, who was struggling to come up with ideas for his second novel. One day he noticed the additional decorations on the web of a Banded Garden Spider. It was from this natural inspiration that he would come up with the idea of a writing spider and would go on to write one of the world’s most cherished children’s books, Charlotte’s Web. Pop over to the Ark in Space for the full story of the spiders that decorate their own webs together with some amazing pictures.

Jurassic Ward: What Happens When a Sick Kid Gets a Real Dinosaur?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 17:09:08 +0000

Just as old people who vociferously demand respect should never, ever receive it, so poorly children who expects the impossible from harassed employees of the Wishes Come True Foundation should never, ever get what they have wished for. Or should they? This very funny (although I did wince once or twice!) animated short features a sick kid who wants a dinosaur and despite being 66 million years too late will not take no for an answer. Cue a quick suspension of disbelief and the harassed employee returns with a full-grown Utahraptor called Alan (in a sly nod to Dr Alan Grant from Jurassic Park).

Except – of course – the dinosaur isn’t going to behave. Now if you are a little squeamish or offended by (a lot of) cartoon violence, I wouldn’t really, honestly, truly press the play button below. If, on the other hand, you can laugh out loud at blood, guts and the idea of therapy animals being eaten by a dinosaur, then definitely press that button. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! If Wednesday Addams went to animation school, this is the type of thing we might expect...

This most amusing animated short was created in 2026 by Amber Bellomio for her thesis project at Ringling College of art and Design. Although I may be a little late to this particular party (this has been on YouTube since May and whatever algorithm shapes my feed failed to point this little gem out to me!), I’m very happy I finally made it.

Portugal’s Gate to Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 11:57:20 +0000

Porto Covo is a small coastal village, nestled in Portugal’s Alentejo region. As well as its beautiful, whitewashed houses, little sandy coves and dramatic cliffs, it also has a gate to heaven (and as Michael Cane would probably say, not a lot of people know that). The portas do ceu, as it is known in Portuguese, is a small wooden gate set into the coastal landscape. You can reach it by a little stone path, but once through it you will quickly find it goes nowhere. That’s why it is called the gate of heaven because it is the only possible place that the path (and gate) can possibly lead. Of course, the combination of gate, flowers and the sweeping horizon above give it that particular “gateway to heaven” appearance.

It could just as easily be seen as simply a piece of art. And since it has no call to be here, the art lies in the fact that it is here. Image

half•alive’s Brilliant New EP Video (Billions, The Wolf, The Wonder) Is a Surreal Triptych of Music, Dance and Art

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 15:51:04 +0000

The American indie-pop band half•alive ( h•a to their friends) are not a band that you just simply listen to. You really must watch them as well. The video for their new EP (people still make them? Yay!) is a point in case. The songs are Billions, The Wolf and The Wonder. I was afraid that the sound on my device was malfunctioning to begin with, because the visuals of four office workers didn’t quite match up with the “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” intro, but we segue elegantly into the heart of the first song Billions very quickly. I love the dynamic movements here – a little reminiscent of Gener8ion’s Storm in the office scenes (that might just be me) but it was almost as if some of the boys from Storm had grown up (a little) and got themselves jobs! Regardless, this is intensely clever choreography.

The YouTube commenters love it. From jokes about the choreography requiring the sacrifice of “several childhood core memories” to comparisons with Severance after a questionable trip to the bathroom, the reactions are overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Fans praise half•alive as much for their visual storytelling as their music, while newcomers are discovering the band for the first time. One longtime fan summed it up perfectly: “Three things are for certain. Death, taxes and half-alive consistently blowing us away.”

I’m pretty sure that someone is channelling a few Caravaggio paintings in here too – but make your own mind up by watching the video below. The bonkers decision to place an ad in the middle of the song almost worked as part of the whole performance (if you see what I mean). The video was directed and produced by Josh Taylor & Courtney Coker with choreography by the JA Collective (with a nod or two to Philippe Decouflé?), performed by Anthony Dessables, Avery Jerome, J Tyler Johnson, Josh Taylor. Experimentally mainstream (or vice versa), this triptych is a real trip.

Enjoy!

China’s Gold-Winning Aerobic Gymnastics Trio Is Pure Joy to Watch

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 15:07:45 +0000

If you have an ever so slightly twisted younger sibling, then you will understand the relationship between the World Games and the Olympics. They are a little different and certainly less conventional – and include sports such as tug-of-war, wushu and billiards – as well as the Aerobic Gymnastics Trio event. I know that we don’t often feature sports on Kuriositas, but the AGT event is as camp as a row of tents. Not only that, it has a joie de vivre to it that cannot fail to put a smile on the face of even the most po-faced gymnastics judge (surely?).

Last held in the Summer of 2025, China romped home as the gold medal winner of the Aerobic Gymnastics Trio event. It’s not hard to see why after watching the exuberant performance of Fan Siwei, Zhang Qingzhou, and Wang Zhenhao. I loved the way that they are absolutely in their element from beginning to end – not to mention the technical brilliance of their performance. Take a look and walk away a sports fan.

Darwin’s Final Thoughts on the Origin of Life: From Evolutionary Biology to Evolutionary Chemistry

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 14:40:02 +0000

Evolutionary biology has come a long way since Darwin published On the Origin of the Species in 1859, so much so that we may have to start calling it evolutionary chemistry. Joking aside, this fascinating glimpse into Darwin’s thoughts as they themselves evolved offers great insight into what the scientist could get away with publishing in his own day, against what he finally resolved to be the ultimate origin of life on earth – the creation of a single cell. While he left room in the book for a creator, his later letter to Joseph Hooker omits to mention a deity – but having lived through the backlash that Origin provoked, perhaps he was wise not to publish his final thoughts (or words) on the subject. Learn more about it in the fascinating video below, by BBC Science - but it is without a doubt a rejection of creationism.

We all have family trees – perhaps not dating back to a single cell in most cases(wouldn’t it be great if those genealogy sites went back that far!). Regardless, you may be interested in learning a little more about the Darwin Dynasty – those who came before and after the great man Charles.

Fluff and Furious Animated Short: A Hilarious Tale of a Poodle Who Wants to be a Wolf

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 09:20:24 +0000

Fluffy is a poodle and like many other dogs his size, tends to get ideas above his station! I guess it’s something that dog owners come across regularly – and where our canine companions get these ideas from is anyone’s guess. Except, in this case, Fluffy’s owner makes the mistake of having a snooze in the middle of a nature documentary about wolves. This is when Fluffy makes the awesome discovery that he is a descendant of these wild, majestic animals – and so decided to reclaim his history and act like a wolf. This is a charming animated short, full of moments that dog owners everywhere will acknowledge with a knowing nod (and probably a chuckle, too).

Fluff and Furious was developed and directed by Joey Liao, who created the animated short for his degree thesis. It has its roots firmly planted in the animations that those of us of a certain age used to watch when we were kids! Watch and enjoy Fluff and Furious below.

The Space Pirates of Japanese Sci-Fi: From Captain Harlock to Modern Anime

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:04:55 +0000

Ever caught yourself rooting for the bad guy who turns out to be the good guy? That's the whole pull of the space pirate. A skull on the sail, a ship that probably shouldn't fly, and a captain who answers to nobody. Japanese sci-fi practically built a shrine to this idea, and it all started with one brooding rebel drifting through the stars.

The Rebel Who Refused to Salute

Meet Captain Harlock. Created by Leiji Matsumoto back in 1977, he's the blueprint. One eye, a long scar, hair like a storm, and a flag no government could stomach. He fights for Earth while Earth wants him gone. Kind of tragic, right? That contradiction is exactly why fans never let him go.

His appeal spread way past the manga page. You'll spot his DNA in music videos, movie posters, and merch shelves. And that pirate fantasy he helped feed keeps finding fresh homes. These days it powers sweepstakes casino games at BigPirate, a pirate-themed site with treasure raids and Gold Coins you can chase for free, no real cash on the line. Different medium, same restless dream of the open frontier. Not bad for a cartoon from the seventies.

A Battleship, a Train, and a Whole Lot of Grief

Here's where Matsumoto got clever. He loved smashing old and new together. His stories tossed World War II battleships next to Victorian trains and cowboy hats, then flung the lot across the cosmos. Weird? Sure. Brilliant? Absolutely.

Take the Arcadia, Harlock's ship. It's cobbled together from ancient parts, yet it slices through space like a blade. That ship became a symbol. Freedom. Resistance. And Matsumoto meant every word of it. His father flew for the old Imperial army, and Leiji grew up hearing about the horrors of war. So his pirates aren't just cool. They carry real weight, real sorrow.

You feel that ache in almost everything he touched. Space Battleship Yamato. Galaxy Express 999. More than 150 of his stories circle back to the tragedy of conflict. The man wanted us to remember, and he wanted us to never repeat it.

And here's the odd part. That sadness is what makes the adventure sing. A pirate with nothing left to lose fights differently. He's braver, sure, but he's also lonelier, and you feel every mile of empty space around his ship. Matsumoto knew that ache sells better than any laser battle.

One Captain, a Whole Fleet

So how did one lonely pirate end up spawning shelves packed with anime? Simple. Harlock cracked something wide open.

Look at Hideaki Anno, the mind behind Neon Genesis Evangelion. He soaked up Matsumoto's work. That moody, philosophical vibe didn't come from nowhere. And you can trace the same rebel spirit through countless shows since. The lone antihero. The ragtag crew. The ship was both a home and a weapon. Those beats echo everywhere now.

Modern anime keeps remixing the recipe too. Some series lean hard into the swashbuckling fun. Others chase the heavier stuff, the loneliness and the moral gray. Cowboy Bebop's drifters, the misfit crews of a dozen space operas, they all owe a quiet debt to that one-eyed captain. Even the design language stuck around. Long limbs, flowing hair, sleek ships with a haunted feel. You've seen it, maybe without knowing where it came from. Funny how a guy who trusted almost nobody ended up connecting generations of storytellers.

Why We Keep Chasing the Skull Flag

Let me ask you something. Why do space pirates still hit so hard? My guess? They're the ultimate underdogs. They lose their homes, their crews, sometimes their whole planet. And they keep sailing anyway. There's something painfully human in that, don't you think?

Matsumoto passed away in February 2023, but his fingerprints are all over the genre. His final Harlock manga wrapped up only a few years earlier, proof that he never really let go of his favorite rebel. Neither have his fans.

So the next time you watch a scrappy crew take on an empire, tip your hat to the source. A scarred captain, a patchwork ship, and a creator who turned his own grief into something beautiful. The skull flag still flies. And honestly? It isn't coming down anytime soon.

The Lucky Tree of Chapel Rock

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:29:07 +0000

Nature can take hold in precarious places. Chapel Rock on Lake Superior has a single tree perched atop its column. By rights the tree should not be there: the small surface area of land on the top of the rock is insufficient to sustain a tree of this size.

There is hardly any topsoil, certainly not enough for an obviously thriving tree. How then does it flourish?

Image Credit Flickr User DJblock99

Image Credit Flickr User Jim's Travels

Look a little closer and you will see the answer – that rope on the right of the picture is not, in fact a rope. It is a system of roots, extending and stretching over the edge of the rock to the main bluff where there are nutrients and water aplenty.

Image Credit Flickr User mtsn
Yet how on earth did the root extend over to the mainland? Did it slither in some triffid like way until it reached the other side? Is there a Little Shop of Horrors thing happening here? If you can remember the puzzle about the hanged man in an empty room then you are moving in the right direction to solve one of nature’s mysteries.

Image Credit Flickr User eoz15
The answer lies in the type of rock upon which the tree is balanced. It is part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior, which lies between the city of Munising and the township of Grand Marais. Part of this National Lakeshore (the first so designated in the US, back in 1966) which ranges for 42 miles is 15 miles of colorful sandstone cliffs. Sandstone erodes.

Image Credit Flickr User mtsn
Over the millennia the cliffs have been sculpted in to any number of wonderful shapes, from caves and arches to formations that look like human faces or the turrets of romanticized medieval castles. Chapel Rock is one such rock along the cliff side. Yet until one day in the 1940s the rock was not a pillar – it was an arch.

Image Credit Flick User Dave Hogg
So, there is your answer. If, in your book, some people are born lucky then so, it seems, is the occasional tree. This one had established itself while Chapel Rock was attached to the main bluff of the cliff face. As it was at the edge of the cliff-side, its roots naturally grew towards the nearest source of fresh water and developed in to a long and strong system. Then, the fateful day came seventy odd years ago. When the sandstone had eroded to a point at which it could no longer bear its own weight, the whole archway tumbled to the ground leaving a pillar behind.

Image Credit Flickr User mtsn
Yet instead of plummeting to the ground with the rock and the topsoil the roots somehow managed to cling on to either side of where the arch had previously been. The roots have continued to grow over the decades and are now thick and wooden (even though they would already have to have been very strong). They look, to all intents and purposes, as if they have deliberately struggled and strained over the chasm. As tempting as it may look, I can't find any record of any foolhardy sould trying to use the roots to clamber over to the column and tree.

Image Credit Flickr User Velcro

Image Credit Flickr User Farlane
If had been just a little closer to the arch then there is no doubt that the tree would have fallen. Instead it has puzzled many a visitor to this beautiful part of Picture Rocks National Lakeshore. You might say it’s an arboreal case of the chicken and the egg. Yet just like the hanged man puzzle, if you know how to look for the metaphorical block of ice the answer finally seems obvious.

Image Credit Flickr User Brook b19

Image Credit Flickr User jrfeenst
First Image Credit Flickr User James Marvin Phelps

Perya Game Online: Understanding Filipino Carnival Games and Their Types

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:21:58 +0000

A Filipino perya game is more than a simple pastime. It is part of the atmosphere of fiestas, fairs, and community celebrations, where colorful booths and quick games can draw curious players from across the crowd.

Traditional perya attractions range from Color Game and Pula Puti to ring toss, shooting games, and ball-based activities.

Some of these familiar formats are now available online. Digital platforms can recreate mechanics involving colors, dice, balls, numbers, wheels, and other simple predictions. However, an online version may have different rules, betting limits, and payout structures from its traditional counterpart.

This guide looks at the main types of perya games, explains how online versions generally work, and covers the practical checks players should make before getting started.

Understanding the Perya Game

The first thing to know is that “perya game” does not describe one specific title. It refers to a category of carnival-style games traditionally associated with Filipino fairs and fiestas.

Some games depend primarily on chance, while others involve physical skill. The classic perya setup might include a player tossing a ring, aiming at a target, choosing a color, or watching where a ball lands.

Online platforms have taken some of these familiar concepts and converted them into digital formats. Players may encounter color predictions, dice games, ball drops, wheels, races, and number-based games.

Because the category is broad, the rules are not universal. A Color Game on one platform may not have exactly the same betting options or payouts as another. The same principle applies to other carnival-inspired titles.

Understanding this distinction is important for beginners. The name “perya” tells you about the game's style and cultural connection, but it does not automatically explain how the individual game works.

Exploring Common Perya Game Types

Different venues and online platforms can offer different selections. Still, several formats are especially familiar to Filipino players.

Color Game

Color Game is among the most recognizable traditional perya attractions. In a typical version, players select a color before colored dice are rolled.

The appearance of the selected color can determine whether a bet wins, while the payout may depend on how many times that color appears and the specific rules of the game.

Online versions can reproduce this concept through virtual or live dice. The digital interface may look different, but the basic idea remains straightforward: choose a color, observe the result, and compare it with the game's winning conditions.

Pula Puti

Pula Puti, which means “red and white,” is another color-based carnival game. Depending on the version, players predict or select a red or white outcome using a particular game mechanism.

The online format may change how the result is displayed or how bets are placed. For that reason, players should read the rules of the specific version rather than assuming it works exactly like a traditional booth game.

Drop Ball

Drop Ball focuses on where a ball eventually lands. Players select an available outcome before the ball moves through a board, chute, or similar arrangement.

The online version may include animations and faster rounds, but the central concept remains a prediction followed by a result.

Other Carnival-Style Formats

The wider perya category may also include bingo, fishing games, ball-rolling games, wheel-based games, and other quick-play attractions.

Availability depends on the platform. More importantly, each title should be treated as its own game with its own rules.

How to Play an Online Perya Game

Although individual mechanics vary, the general process is easy to follow.

Start by choosing a title and reading its instructions. Check the available betting options, winning conditions, payout table, round duration, and any other relevant rules.

Next, select an outcome. Depending on the game, this could mean choosing a color, number, position, or another result. If you are playing for real money, select a wager within the game's permitted limits.

The game then produces its result according to its stated mechanism. Once the round ends, compare the result with your selection to determine whether the wager qualifies for a payout.

The simplicity of this process is one reason these games are accessible to beginners. It is important, however, not to confuse simple rules with predictable results. When a game uses chance to determine its outcome, previous rounds cannot guarantee what will happen next.

Part 2

Why Are Perya Games Available Online?

Moving carnival-style games to digital platforms offers convenience. Instead of waiting for a local fiesta or visiting a physical fair, players can access compatible games through websites or mobile devices, depending on the provider.

Online platforms can also put several game types in one place. Someone interested in Color Game, for example, may also find Drop Ball or other carnival-inspired formats without having to move from booth to booth.

There is a practical difference, though. Online games can be available much more frequently than physical perya attractions. This makes repeated play easier, which is precisely why setting limits becomes important.

The digital format provides accessibility and variety. It does not automatically provide better odds or make winning more likely. Real-money gameplay should therefore be viewed as entertainment rather than a dependable way to earn money.

What to Check Before Playing

A good starting point is the platform itself. Before focusing on which game looks interesting, check whether the operator is authorized and whether you understand the terms of play.

Verify the Operator

For players in the Philippines, check the current regulatory status of a real-money gaming platform using official PAGCOR resources.

PAGCOR's PAGCOR Guarantee service helps the public verify authorized online gaming providers. The regulator has also warned about fraudulent sites that misuse its name or branding.

Do not treat a licensing logo displayed on a website as sufficient proof. Verification should come from the appropriate official source.

Study the Game Rules

A familiar name does not guarantee identical mechanics.

Review the payout table, betting limits, available outcomes, timers, and winning conditions. Online developers can adapt traditional game concepts in different ways, so the specific rules matter more than the title.

Understand the Financial Conditions

Before making a deposit, check the minimum and maximum wagers, payment methods, withdrawal conditions, and applicable fees.

It is also useful to understand how deposits and withdrawals work before you begin. A few minutes spent reading the terms can prevent confusion later.

Use Official Access Points

Be cautious about links shared through suspicious messages, unofficial accounts, or websites making licensing claims that cannot be verified.

For real-money play, use an authorized platform and verify the relevant domain through current PAGCOR resources. As of August 2026, the source information for this guide identifies 61 accredited gaming administrators, including Total GameZone Xtreme Incorporated (TGXI) and the “GameZone” domain.

Check the Age Requirement

PAGCOR's responsible gaming guidance states that individuals under 21 are not allowed to gamble within its regulated gaming environment.

This should be treated as a basic eligibility requirement, not something to work around.

Responsible Ways to Play

The quick format of a perya game online can make repeated betting feel routine. One round finishes, another begins, and suddenly a short gaming session has become considerably longer.

Setting boundaries before playing can help prevent that. Decide how much money you are willing to spend and how long you intend to play. Treat the amount as entertainment spending rather than money you expect to recover or multiply.

It is also important not to increase your wager because you lost the previous round. A previous outcome does not make the next result more likely to go your way.

PAGCOR advises players to gamble for entertainment, establish time and money limits, expect losses, avoid borrowing money to gamble, and avoid chasing losses.

Watch for changes in your own behavior as well. Spending beyond your intended budget, playing longer than planned, or repeatedly attempting to recover losses can indicate that gambling is becoming difficult to control.

Perya Game Online: Key Points for Beginners

A perya game online is best understood as a digital adaptation of the broader Filipino carnival-game tradition. It is not one standardized game, and different platforms can offer different formats and mechanics.

Color Game, Pula Puti, Drop Ball, bingo, and other games involving colors, balls, numbers, or wheels are examples of formats that may fall within the wider category.

If you are exploring these games, focus on three fundamentals: learn the rules, verify the platform, and set your limits.

Understanding the mechanics helps you know what you are actually playing. Verifying the operator helps you avoid unauthorized platforms. Setting spending and time limits helps keep entertainment within a manageable boundary.

The familiar carnival spirit may now fit on a phone or computer screen, but the sensible approach remains much the same. Know the game, know the rules, and know when to stop.

Frequently Asked Questions About Perya Games

What Is a Perya Game?

A perya game is a carnival-style game traditionally associated with Filipino fiestas, fairs, and community events. Examples include Color Game, Pula Puti, ring toss, shooting games, and ball-based attractions. Some formats are also adapted for online play.

What Are Popular Perya Game Types?

Common examples include Color Game, Pula Puti, Drop Ball, bingo, and other color-, ball-, number-, and wheel-based games. The selection varies by platform.

How Does a Perya Game Online Work?

Players typically choose a game, review its rules and payout structure, select an outcome or wager, and wait for the result. Exact mechanics depend on the individual title.

Can Perya Games Be Played on Mobile?

Many online perya-style games can be accessed through mobile browsers or compatible applications. Players should check the provider's official device and access requirements.

Are Perya Games Based on Luck or Skill?

Both types exist. Traditional perya entertainment can include physical skill games, while many real-money formats rely mainly on chance. The specific rules determine how a particular game works.

Are Online Perya Games Legal in the Philippines?

Some online perya-style games may be offered through authorized gaming platforms, but not every website or application is legitimate. Verify the operator and domain through current PAGCOR resources before depositing or playing.

What Is the Legal Gambling Age in the Philippines?

PAGCOR states that individuals under 21 are not allowed to gamble within its regulated gaming environment.

Luzhou, China: Stunning Aerial Tour of a Modern Yangtze City 泸州

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:10:52 +0000

At the junction of the Yangtze and Tuo rivers, stands the city of Luzhou. Home to over 4 million people, here we are given an aerial tour, courtesy of Lalin Photography. As the geographic junction of the four provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Chongqing, Luzhou was an important port location in ancient China and remains so today. In our aerial tour, we are shown the port and airport area and the main city, with its Blade Runner style building illuminations as well as the surrounding rocky countryside where tea is still grown using age-old techniques.

Although you may now think you know the city after watching this incredible video, it may well whet your appetite to visit Luzhou - it does look like there are plenty of places to visit and things to do in this thriving location! Looking down on it gives us an idea of its immensity, population and the sheer hard work that has driven Luzhou from its ancient origins to its modern-day renaissance. Watch the video below.

How Did the Bayeux Tapestry Survive for a Thousand Years?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:45:00 +0000

We still don’t know (and it’s unlikely we ever will) who ordered the Bayeux Tapestry to be made and who made it, but we do know that it is unlikely it was made in Bayeux. The most likely place for its creation is Canterbury, and historians believe that the person who funded it was Bishop Odo, the half-brother of the new King of England, William the Conqueror. Whatever and whoever, it is remarkable that this piece of stitching has survived for the best part of a millennium. What was needed in order for it to survive so long?

This wonderful animation from The British Museum may not have all the facts, lost as they are to history, but its guesswork is informed by centuries of research and the answers you have here are probably correct. So if you want to know where the tapestry has been all this time, why it has been moved and where it ended up, then watch the video below.

Dawn: A Tiny Sea Turtle’s Fight for Survival | Stunning Animation

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:27:52 +0000

Near the palm-strewn beaches of Komodo Island, a sea turtle hatches. She is tiny and vulnerable, but must make her way to the ocean via a series of obstacles – the obstacles mostly being other animals that want to eat her. Whether it’s birds, crabs of Komodo dragons, she has the challenge of her short lifetime in front of her. Beautifully animated, this animated short by a group of ESMA students really keeps you on the edge of your seats, rooting for the hatchling as she navigates her way to the comparative safety of the ocean.

It’s quite amazing that this was created by students – it looks like a fully professional animation (I would have loved a commentary by David Attenborough!). Dawn was directed by Chang YuFang, Dejoux Matthieu, Forestier Maxime, Jonckheere Lucas, Mercier Noah, Pradeilles Marie, Royer Apolline, and Stora Lorys, with music by Dorian Bonnardel (Philarmedia). Sound design was provided by Guilhem Favard, Mickaêl Merrheim, Yohann Poncet, and José Vicente.

Usurpingly, the animation is garnering a lot of positive comments on YouTube. Viewers have praised its realism, texture work and emotional storytelling, with one commenter describing it as “impressively realistic” and another calling it “GOAT animation” (that’s greatest of all time, apparently). Several highlighted the hopeful ending and the dramatic perspective that turns the battling Komodo dragons into a giant “kaiju battle” from the tiny turtle’s point of view. Others commended the quality of the animation and sound design, with comments such as “Great work!”, “Very beautiful animation,” and “Incredible, bravo!” Recurring themes include admiration for the craftsmanship, appreciation that it is a human-made production, and emotional engagement with the turtle’s struggle for survival, with many viewers wishing the hatchling luck on its perilous journey. While a small minority criticised the story, the overwhelming response has been one of praise for the film’s artistry, atmosphere and technical achievement.

The Color of Water

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 19:43:56 +0000

What color is water? It is a question that many children ask, not to mention adults, and the answer is invariably that it has no color. It is transparent, clear, see through. Is that answer the correct one? Image Credit Flickr User Chaval Brasil

Image Credit Flickr User Capn Mad Matt

Take a look at that lovely cool wine glass of water above. Looks refreshing and thirst quenching, yes? No? Let me take a look. Oh dear! Well, disregard the goldfish if you can but the water is colorless, right? Wrong. The water does have color but it is not something that the human eye can see when H₂O is present in such small quantities.

Image Credit Flickr User NASA Goddard

In order to see the real color of water we must take a look at a large body. By large body, we do not mean Arnold Schwarzenegger, but a place where a great volume of water can be looked through or down into. It can be done scientifically as well, but the human eye can see the intrinsic color of water in the right conditions. You may well have already guessed what that color may be.

Image CRedit Flickr User SF Brit

Image Credit Flickr PacoCT

Image Credit Flickr User Isolino

Well yes, okay. It is blue, light blue –some would even argue turquoise. Now before you close this page, spare a second to think about why you thought that. Is it because you think that it is due to the reflection of the sky on the surface of a large body of water, such as the sea? So, when the day is overcast and cloudy, how is it that the sea then appears to be the same color or perhaps an even darker blue than on bright, cloudless sunny days? True, the reflection of light does contribute to the color that the water looks, but only when the surface of the water is very still. The picture below, taken at Los Cabos, Mexico shows the sea at its stillest and most serene – and as such its bluest. The red you can see is pure reflection, however, not the color of water at all.

Image Credit Flickr User Lecates

The amount of this color caused by reflection is due mostly to the angle at which you look at it, which in scientific terms is known as the angle of incidence. Put simply it is how many degrees away from looking at water straight on that you are. The higher the angle, the bluer the water will appear due to reflection. This is because the reflectivity of the water is higher in direct correspondence of the angle of incidence. Water can quickly become totally reflective under these conditions.

Image Credit Flickr User carib

Image Credit Flickr User Jurvetson

Of course, what is in the water plays a very important role in the color we perceive it to be. These salt ponds in the US are full of algae. Pink algae. It is not, as legend has it, that the water has such a low PH that when flamingoes attempted to land there that they were effectively melted. It is due to the presence – in very large quantities – of the microalgae Dunaliella salina. So, what more proof can there be that what is in the water often predetermines the color that we see?

Image Credit Flickr User Mmarchin

Algae is usually associated with the color of green and that of course will change the color of the water. It can also be done by human hand, of course. The denizens of Chicago often turn the color of their river green on Saint Patrick’s Day. Quite what it does to the fish in there – if indeed there are any – is anyone’s guess.

Image Credit Flickr User Rachel the Cat

The magnificence of the deep blue of the sea off Montserrat (picture above). .A lot of the color you see comes from the depth of the water, not the sunlight cascading down upon it. White sunlight contains all the colors in the spectrum. Water gives absorbing all these colors a good go but some of them are absorbed more than others. It is only, in addition, any good at doing this if it has a lot of company. In other words, cup sea water in your hands and it appears clear, throw it back in the sea and it joins the rest of the countless H₂O molecules in there to become blue.

Image Credit Flickr User notsogoodphotography

The sea’s water can absorb red light very well, and so the sea is not red. However, the water does not absorb blue light very well and so this light is transmitted through the water. As it is not absorbed, you perceive the water to be blue. Yes, it is absolutely the same principle as to why the sky is blue as well. We can be blinded by science as well as the sights!

Image Credit Flickr User lujaz

Image Credit Flickr User Natu

The ferries coming in to the Maldives (above) are dwarfed by the sea and its magnificent multi-coloring. If you have ever been in a swimming pool which has had its sides and bottom white washed you will have noticed that the water appears turquoise. This is even inside when there is no light to be reflected. So it is in the outside world – the true color of water is best seen from above. This beautiful shot from Minorca, below, illustrates this wonderfully.

Image Credit Flickr User Visualpanic

Image Credit Flickr User Jenny Huang

In terms of the visible spectrum, red and blue are complementary colors. So it is the blue that we see as we observe light passing through water to greater depths. The lower we go, the bluer it seems to get. When flashlights are used by divers then the ‘real’ colors emerge but anything at a distance of more than a few feet appears blue – even though it isn’t really.

Image Credit Flickr User Tom Weilenman

Image Credit Flickr User Misterbisson

This color can be seen in deep snow and ice as the color scatters back. Likewise when a waterfall is frozen you can often perceive the water to be almost of a bluegreen hue as these colors are scattered back because of the deep penetration of light.

Image Credit Flickr User Notsogoodphotography

The color that we perceive can also be governed by what is in the water itself. Have you ever gazed at the sea, musing on life’s imponderables (that sounds like an oxymoron)? You may well have noticed that different parts of the sea are – or seem to be – different colors. This lovely shot from the Maldives clearly shows the sea as different colors. It can be caused by the presence of clouds and their associated shadow, but often it seems not to be the case (especially, of course on cloudless days). This happens because of what is actually in the sea and has nothing to do with what is above it. The picture of Liguria, in Italy, pictured below, perfectly shows the different hues of the sea.

Image Credit Flickr User Gregory Bastien

Image Credit Flickr User Amorim

Oceans and lakes usually contain a lot of particles suspended in the water. These are a combination of dirt and dead plants and animals. Living animals, too, because of their size can change the way we perceive the color of a body of water. As the water fails to absorb a lot of blue light, it hits these elements in the water and the blue light is reflected right back upwards. Tropical water and, say, the waters of the Atlantic look different to each other because in the tropics the color is due to the absorption of the red light, leaving only the blue visible to us.

Image Credit Flickr User Rachel the cat

The colors of the waters off Guadalupe can be seen here in this amazing wave. The Atlantic on the other hand has a blue which is caused by the suspension of countless numbers of plant, animal and dirt particles within it.

Image Credit Flickr User Greg Hayter

Image Credit Flickr User AlhikesAZ

Why do some bodies of water appear colors other than blue? Some look black or grey or even brown. Again, this is because of what is absorbed in the water. Muddy waters appear muddy because of sheer science. Mud reflects more red light than blue light and so when there is mud in water it looks brown. A lake full of peat will look black as peat absorbs virtually all the light that hits it. On a stormy day the sea will appear a grey color and, yes, that is partly to do with the color of the sky. It is also because the clouds filter out a great deal of the red light from the sun before it hits the water.

Image Credit Flickr User OregonDOT

We see water in a variety of ways. It may be colored by particles, the presence of bacteria, or by reflecting the world above its surface. Ice and snow may reveal a vivid internal blue such as the Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge in Oregon, above. Water itself has an intrinsic blue color that is a result of its molecular structure and its behavior. The blue bouncing back can be vividly seen here, as a pair of brace (foolhardy?) climbers venture up a waterfall in the Banff National Park in Canada.

Image Credit Flickr User Lazlo Photo

Of course, the waters around Banff National Park are renowned for their turquoise color. This is due to the many particles of finely ground rock in the glacial melts. Lake Moraine, below is known for this icy blueness which almost hurts the eyes.

Image Credit Flickr User dbarronnoss

Image Credit Flickr User AGrinberg

If you want to have a look for yourself at the natural and intrinsic color of water, you can do that fairly cheaply. Take a long pipe filled with purified water. So that the water doesn’t flood out when you look through it, cover each end with a transparent window. If you look down through the first of these windows at a piece of paper lit by natural sunlight you will see the pale blue color of water revealed.

Image Credit Flickr User Laszlo Photo

Mildred and the Copycat: The Brilliant Kids’ Story About Art, Credit and Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:38:48 +0000

This is for kids, but I am going to feature it quite unashamedly as it tells such a cool story! Based on the children’s book Mildred and the Copycat by Jono Ganz (and published by Tate in the UK), it tells the story of a cat called Mildred (you guessed it). She isn’t seen much in the day as she spends her time napping, but at night, when the gallery in which she lives closes, she comes to artistic life. The gallery (and its visitors) witness a new masterpiece each day. However, one day a dog called Barksy inadvertently gets given the credit for these works of art and… just goes with the flow, really.

A furious Mildred becomes determined to expose the copycat. How will she go about doing this? Well, you will have to watch the animated short below to find out. It is narrated by David Rintoul, who you might know from his TV role of Aerys II Targaryen (The Mad King) in Game of Thrones or perhaps from the RuneScape video game as Zaros. The original author, Jono Gonz, created the script and directed the short, while animation is by Wolf Horn (great name, whether that’s a studio but particularly if it’s a person). This is Mildred's second adventure and both books are published by Tate and available at its shop.

Tate Kids does some great videos about art, and this one is no exception. This animation also has one of the best one-liners I have come across for a while – delivered by a middle-class lady as she exits the gallery (I can’t give the game away, it’s too good). Watch Mildred and the Copycat below and see whether Mildred manages to reclaim credit for her art.

Valonia ventricosa: The Giant Single-Celled Organism (Also Known as The Sailor’s Eyeball)

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:32:08 +0000

Have you ever seen something that has immediately made you do a double take? Valonia ventricosa is one of those things – and that is even before you discover how truly strange this organism is. At first glance, it looks like a green bubble, perhaps a glass bead that has found its way into the sea or onto the beach. However, that double take (and a little investigation) would soon tell you that you have come across something considerably stranger than a glass bead. This is one enormous single-celled organism. Image

Image Credit

Found in tropical and subtropical areas, Valonia ventricosa is a species of green alga. It is mostly discovered around coral reefs and rocky shores. It has several other names – the best by far of which is the sailor’s eyeball – and it is easy to see why it attracted that particular nomenclature. The rounded translucent spheres can be easily converted into a visual metaphor for the sole remains of some unfortunate mariner. Remarkably, they can grow up to several centimetres across (in other words, the size of an eye), not bad for something that is biologically a single cell.

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And that is the extraordinary part. We usually think of cells as microscopic entities – things that we can see under a microscope but would otherwise be invisible to the human (even a sailor’s) eye. Our own bodies contain billions of them, and each perform their own specialised job, working together to keep us up and running. However, Valonia ventricose manages to get by as a single cell, albeit a ginormous one. Its other names are bubble algae and the sea grape – so you can probably see why my favourite is the sailor’s eyeball…

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The outer surface is full of chloroplasts, structures that allow it to capture energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. All cells have vacuoles – that is the fluid-filled space inside it – but the sailor’s eyeball has a large one, despite much of its living material concentrated around the outside.

They also appear in groups...

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Inside this seemingly simple sphere lies a remarkably complex cell. Its outer surface contains chloroplasts, the structures that allow the alga to capture energy from sunlight through photosynthesis. It is also unusual in having a large central vacuole, with much of the cell's living material concentrated around the outside. There doesn’t seem to be one single proven reason why this vacuole – and so the cell – is so large. It is thought that its large size helps it compete for space and sunlight in its marine environment. Not only that, being a larger spherical cell can also make it harder for small organisms to eat or damage it. In other words, the jury is out on the reason for the size of this organism, but it’s certainly one of evolutions quirkier moments.

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Despite its almost manufactured appearance – the reason why many people pick one up when it is encountered – it is a natural organism quietly getting on with life. Its outer wall is, despite looking robust, fairly delicate. If handled roughly, (squeezing it can cause a rupture) it’s game over for the cell, no matter how quickly it is put back into the ocean. Unsurprisingly, it feels like a water-filled balloon to the touch, although it's best to avoid picking it up, since disturbing or damaging it can do irrevocable harm to the organism. So, the cell above, likely did not survive this photo opportunity.

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The color of Valonia ventricosa varies from a silvery or pale green to a much darker green, and that all depends on its condition and surroundings. This does not mean it is like a chameleon. Its colour can change because its chloroplasts and the way light interacts with the cell can vary. Likewise, while some specimens are almost perfectly spherical, other have more irregular shapes. They are also known to congregate (not just for reproduction) and can sometimes look like someone has placed a collection of glass marbles into the water.

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It does have another interesting “trick” up its sleeve. Valonia ventricose is multinucleate. Although cells overwhelmingly have a single nucleus, some can have many (including our own skeletal muscle cells) – and that is the case with this one. In its case, multiple nuclei allow the giant cell to keep genetic control relatively close to the areas that need it. Cytoplasm (the thick, gelatinous fluid that fills the inside of a cell) can be coordinated locally, which is more efficient.

Is being multinucleate why Valonia ventricose gets to its huge size? Fungal cells can contain multiple nuclei while still being microscopic. So, having multiple nuclei isn't what makes a cell enormous. In V. ventricosa, the multiple nuclei presumably help the giant cell coordinate its activities, but we can't say that being multinucleate is what causes it to reach such a huge size. Yet – time and study may allow us to uncover this answer.

Image Credit

This remarkable alga can reproduce both sexually and asexually. It produces gametes (reproductive cells) which are released and can fuse with gametes from another individual. If the alga finds itself isolated, it can produce new individuals itself. How? Through a process called fragmentation, in which part of the alga can separate and develop into a new individual. New growth comes from specialised parts of the thallus (that’s another word for the entire giant spherical structure) and eventually develops into a new alga.

Some aquarium keepers consider V. ventricosa a pest because it can spread rapidly under favourable conditions. As far as I can tell, however, no study has established a precise doubling time. Since the alga is typically introduced into aquaria on materials collected from the ocean, my sympathy for the frustrated aquarist is somewhat limited. Still, thinking of this earthly organism as the “tribble of the aquarium world” is fairly amusing.

Sorry, couldn't resist...

For me, perhaps the most appealing thing about Valonia ventricosa is that it challenges one of our simplest assumptions about life: that a single cell must be tiny. As such, it’s a useful reminder that nature doesn't always follow the rules we have invented in our heads. Sometimes, apparently, one cell is quite enough.

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The Strange Sarcophagi of the Chachapoya

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:40:16 +0000

By the time the Spanish arrived in Peru at the beginning of the 16th Century the Chachapoya people had already been subsumed in to the great Inca Empire. Although they had resisted the Incas fiercely, the lands of these Warriors of the Clouds as they were known had been annexed and had been forced to adopt the customs and culture of their conquerors. Yet they left one thing behind – the strange sarcophagi in which they would bury their dead.

Image Credit Flickr User Sophs74

About thirty miles away from the city of Chachapoyas (named after the Inca word for the tribe, what they called themselves is lost to time) lies the Utcubamba valley. There was an earthquake here in 1928. As the hills shook, something strange fell from the cliffs that lined a river gorge in 1928. It was an odd seven foot tall clay man, impassively square-jawed, almost in the manner of the Moai of Easter Island.

Image Credit Flickr User World Surfr

Archaeologists were called in – and they were excited. They knew that this was a purunmachu – the name given to the sarcophagi in which the Chachapoya would place their dead. It was an incredibly rare find – most had been either partially or fully destroyed by looters.

Image Credit Flickr User C-Monster

It was not long before they had scaled the ravine to discover seven more of these extraordinary objects. The relatives of the dead had been supremely careful to place these purunmachus in as inaccessible a place as possible and they had escaped the fate of most other examples of this unique form of burial. Carbon tests have been done on them and it is believed that these purunmachus date from around the 1470s – the time that the Inca overwhelmed the Chachapoya.

Image Credit Flickr User Pirindao

Image Credit Flickr User Mederic

Despite their hiding place, time, of course, had weathered them. Yet their original coat of white paint was still visible, as were other details. Yellow ocher and two red pigments had been used to give detail to the body of the purunmachus. The feathers on the tunics were still visible as were the organs which indicated that the bodies inside were very likely to be male. An unusual, macabre, touch had been added. On top of the heads of the purunmachus, human skulls had been placed.

Image Credit Flickr User Michelle McFarlane

Image Credit Flickr User Jorge Gobbi

Other purunmachus have also been discovered in nearby Aya-chaqui and the differences between the two types can be noted even though they belong to the same culture. It seems likely that this practice was widespread for possibly hundreds of years.

It has been surmised just how they were constructed. First a low wall would be built around a body – or it would simply be placed on a ledge. Then, around this bundle of human remains, a thin wall would be constructed. This would cover the body and poles would be inserted in to the structure. As a capsule it would then be smeared with a thick mixture of mud and straw. Once dry it would first be painted white and then decorated with details such as facial characteristics, necklaces and body parts.

Image Credit Flickr User George Gobi

Image Credit Flickr User Jorge Gobbi

As for the Chachapoya themselves, a century after the arrival of the Spanish they had been effectively wiped from the face of the earth. It is believed that they persist only as remain as a strain within the DNA of general indigenous ethnicity in contemporary Peru. Once their culture had disappeared the sarcophagi were no longer untouchable. The vast majority were destroyed by those willing to desecrate a tomb in search of what riches might lie inside.

If you do not feel curious about what lay within the purunmachus, then it is time to scroll upwards. The Museum of Leimebamba has a number of the mummies of the Chachapoya. Warning: human remains are pictured below.

Image Credit Flickr User C-Monster

Image Credit Flickr User pmoroni

The Secluded Secrets of North Peru

If you enjoyed this Kuriositas feature, then why not discover more about Peru? The country has many mysteries, from Machu Picchu to the Nazca Lines. One of the greatest mysteries, however, is why so few people travel to the north of the country. Only a fraction of those who visit Machu Picchu consider going up north, but this is where you will find some of the most remarkable geography, archeological sites and wonderful colonial towns from which to explore. Take a look at the Peruvian road less traveled.

Image Credit Flickr User CPDA
First Image Credit Flickr User Jungle Boy

A Tiny Tale – Charming Animated Short About a Secret World of Toys in the Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:33:13 +0000

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I dig up parts of the garden, I come across the remnants of toys long ago abandoned. They’re the tiny ones – toy soldiers, pieces of Lego – you get the idea. This charming animation – A Tiny Tale - by students at Rubika takes the idea of toys left to their own devices in a garden and runs with it. We have, more or less, a micro-version of our own society, complete with abandoned dogs, a spaceship-mad boy and a cyclist who really just wants to beat her own records. But toys sometimes break...

How they come together is up to you to find out – but this inventive and beautifully made animated short is a joy to watch.

It was directed by Chloé Bourdic, Théophile Coursimault, Sylvain Cuvillier, Noémie Halberstam, Maÿlis Mosny and Zijing Ye, with music by Romain Camiolo, performed by Louise Gagnac on flute and Aryane Roy on vocals, and sound design by Théophile Coursimault.

The Odyssey – Pub Edition: Munya Chawawa’s Hilarious Modern Take on Homer’s Epic

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:11:52 +0000

Why might a modern-day Odysseus be late home? This sketch, written and directed by Munya Chawawa, gives us a very British reason for his tardiness – and there’s no surprise when Penelope is a little bit miffed. His excuses aren’t terribly good, either! This particular Odysseus has been out with his mates to the pub (if you’re not aware of what that means, it’s short for Public House, which in its own turn means a bar). Here, Odysseus and his drinking buddies (Onthelashius, Chuggamemnon and Session) face a number of perils, including a bouncer who just happens to be a cyclops (which provokes possible the best one liner of the sketch) and a trip in a Troyota Prius – not to mention… well, watch it and find out.

As well as Munya Chawawa, the sketch features a brilliant mix of comedians, presenters and performers, including Romesh Ranganathan, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Axel Blake, Joe Marler, Hayley Morris, Theo Shakes and Sam Cornforth. Highlights include Munya’s trademark character comedy, Romesh’s dry delivery, Amelia’s deadpan style and Joe Marler’s chaotic energy, all brought together to give the ancient Odyssey a very modern and ridiculous twist. The mix of well-known comedy personalities and newer performers is what makes the sketch particularly fun.

Magic in You – Cody Fry & The Blue Devils Bring Joy to the Screen

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:48:33 +0000

Back in 2023, Cody Fry first teamed up with the Blue Devils for his track Caves in their Drum Corps International competitive field show. If a collaboration works, then it’s worth revisiting, and so today we have the pleasure of seeing and hearing Magic in You. If you need a little cheering up today, this video may just do the trick. Its enormous joie de vivre is something to behold.

The high-energy track combines Cody Fry’s signature orchestral pop style with the world-class brass and percussion power of the Blue Devils, who have won the DCI World Championship a remarkable 21 times. Not only is the song great, but the video is a celebration of music – as well as marching, of course. There is something wonderfully infectious about watching so many musicians performing with such precision while simultaneously throwing themselves into the sheer joy of the music. It's great to see Cody (whose Unlikely Mariner we featured back in May) give his supporting performers the spotlight so often.

And that’s perhaps what makes Magic in You so effective. It doesn’t feel like a showcase of technical ability for its own sake; instead, the musicianship, choreography and sheer scale of the performance all serve to create an overwhelming sense of optimism.There's even a few Busby Berkely-style moments tucked away in there. It’s difficult not to smile watching it. See if you can resist the temptation by watching Cody and the Blue Devils perform the song below.

Andy – What Happens When an Android Carer Becomes Self-Aware?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 08:30:32 +0000

Although the subject of robots becoming self-aware is something that we are all a little overused to right now (especially with Ann Droid, courtesy of the BBC), having watched Andy, I felt I had to share it for several reasons. Created by Black Elk Productions, It tells the story of Anne Malone. Elderly, with a husband in a care home and a son, Nick, who is too busy to be around much, Anne has recently had an accident. Nick provides her with a carer who turns out, much to Anne’s surprise, to be an android. Hastily named Andy, the two form something of a bond but things quickly go awry and events quickly spiral out of the control of both human and android. To say much more would provide you with too many spoilers, so watch the short and discover what happens.

What is quite remarkable about this is that Anne is played by Jane Merrow, who also wrote the screenplay. I have to say here that it felt like there was a feature-length project crying to get out of this short, as sometimes there seem to be not so much gaps but sleight of hand going on, plot wise. Anne’s neighbour, Pamela (played by Beverly Hills) is criminally underused, but does manage to get both quirkiness and friskiness across in the short time she is on screen. I would have liked to have seen more of her, perhaps an attempt to seduce Andy would have made for great comedic relief. Plus, Andy’s first foray to the farmer’s market with Anne is a little baffling – that such an advanced AI robot could malfunction so badly in terms of interacting with humans!

Regardless, this short does come across as a complete whole and it is very firmly down to the two leads who are both fantastic in their roles. I thought the name Jane Merrow was familiar, and a little research quickly allowed me to discover more about the actress who has been professionally active since the sixties. It might be easier to list what she hasn’t been in, but UK productions she appeared in that you have probably heard of (!) include Danger Man, The Saint, The Prisoner, The Avengers, and UFO. During her time living in America, Merrow also appeared in Alias Smith and Jones, Cannon, Police Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Hart to Hart, Magnum PI, Airwolf and MacGyver. Phew! And that’s only part of her CV.

In Andy, Merrow gives an understated but powerful performance. Her experience as an actor comes through from the outset – complex emotions are expressed so subtly that the audience is drawn to her character and sympathises with her situation from the outset. Her character, Anne, is obviously someone who has enjoyed both independence and control over her destiny and her frustration at being left in the care of an android comes across very convincingly, as does her reluctance to accept her need for help. The growing bond between her and Andy comes across beautifully and the Judas Kiss moment (that’s all I’m saying) is heartbreaking.

Jason Farries seems to be made for the part of Andy – and I am frankly amazed that he isn’t a household name in the UK (at least in my household) – but there is still plenty of time for that. His good looks make him perfect for the part – a combination of boy next door and slightly preppy charm which robot designers would go for to make their product attractive to the eye but non-threatening. Handome seems like an old-fashioned word to use these days, but it's the right one, here. Physically, too, he fits the role – Andy has the body strength needed to help lift and carry but not over-pronounced to the point where he looks like a Terminator! This sounds a little like objectification, but these aspects are essential in enabling the audience to believe that he resembles something that an AI company would go for in their robot design. I can imagine Andy being a very popular model (but maybe for the wrong reasons, cough cough!).

Farries combines the innocence of new “life” with, later, an underlying menace as things go pear-shaped (to put it mildly). As Andy’s sentience and self-awareness grows, the confusion this create for the robot comes across beautifully and we have great sympathy for this new monster. Farries also directed the film and produced it (together with Emily Stanley).

Hats off, too, to the Frankenstein of the piece – Damien, played by Finn Macmillan who has the difficult job of delivering a lot of the film’s important expository detail through telephone dialogue. I would have liked to have seen his character further developed – and this is another reason why to me this film feels like something originally much longer that has been cut down. I don’t know if I am right there, but it didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying the film and all the performances. Still, for an AI genius, Damien does seem remarkably ignorant of Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics!

The comments under the film are overwhelmingly positive. The strongest recurring themes are that viewers found the film moving, unsettling and thought-provoking, with particular praise for the acting, especially Jane Merrow and Jason Farries, as well as the writing, pacing, production and sound. Several viewers were struck by how plausible the story feels as a prediction of where technology might be heading, while others loved the humour and Andy’s character and are already asking for a longer film or series. There’s also a lovely sense that the film genuinely affected people emotionally, with comments describing it as heartbreaking, brilliant, funny, and leaving them with “food for thought.” Even the few criticisms are minor and specific, such as the mechanical sound of Andy’s movements. I thought that too, but then I considered this. Modern electric and hybrid cars generally make artificial sounds at low speeds so pedestrians can hear them approaching. This design feature would probably be incorporated into a robot to differentiate between it and a real human, as well as to enable humans to register its approach. So that would explain that...

Overall, the response suggests that Andy has connected with audiences not simply as a piece of science fiction, but as a human story that leaves people thinking about AI, ageing, companionship and where this technology could take us. Thank you to everyone involved in this wonderful production – another example of how important independent filmmaking is and how it shouldn’t ever be underestimated.